Cheers: Hot Mint Cocoa

Hot cocoa is the most quintessential drink of winter. For thousands of years, a cup of chocolate has been everything from a comforting pick-me-up to the hallowed drink of the gods. Even today, it’s enjoyed in various ways, from Italy’s cioccolata densa, more a hot chocolate pudding than a drink, to Belgium’s warme chocolade, a cup of steamed milk in which to dissolve your plate of bitter chocolate chunks. The American version is more straightforward—a warm mug of chocolate-infused milk, with marshmallows or whipped cream on top. Click here for a standby recipe with a delicious minty twist.